pass by

What does "pass by" mean?

1. To go past a place or person
2. To elapse (time)
3. To be overlooked or ignored

Examples

• I pass by your office every day on my way to work.
• The years passed by so quickly.
• Opportunities like this don't just pass by.
• I was passed by for the promotion.
• We watched the parade pass by.

How to use it

'Passerby' (noun) is someone who walks past. 'Pass by' can imply missing an opportunity if you don't take action.

Similar expressions

Opposites

Related phrasal verbs

• pass out

  To lose consciousness; to faint

• pass away

  To die (euphemism)

• pass on

  To give information or a message to someone else

• pass up

  To choose not to take an opportunity

• pass through

  To travel through a place without stopping

• get by

  To manage to survive or live with limited resources